Marko Arnautovic can be so crazy that former team-mate Mario Balotelli once said he makes him look boring.

But the Austrian was deadly serious when he claimed Mark Hughes’ Stoke can be compared to his old side Inter Milan.

Arnautovic was part of Inter’s 2010 treble-winning squad under Jose Mourinho and says the Potters remind him of them.

Arnautovic is one of five Champions League winners at Stoke – along with Bojan, Xherdan Shaqiri, Marc ­Muniesa and Ibrahim Afellay – and he hailed their talented squad as they target Europe.

Stoke are five points off fifth and the forward said: “Yes, you can compare this squad to the one at Inter Milan that won the treble. There are good players here, top-class players who have won the Champions League.

“I’m especially happy because I scored twice. Always when I have the chance to score three, it doesn’t happen. But I’m still happy.”

While Arnautovic likened Stoke to Inter, Aston Villa are earning comparisons with the 2007-08 Derby side, relegated with the lowest points total ever in the Premier League (11).

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Villa, who were give a lifeline by Leandro Bacuna’s 79th-minute strike, have 16 points with just three Premier League wins all season.

But Alan Hutton rejected manager Remi Garde’s accusation that some players are not giving their all.

“The manager has his opinion but I don’t think anybody goes out to give less than 100 per cent,” said the defender. “It’s difficult when some aren’t feeling as confident. They lose a bit of form. It happens.”

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